Asbestosis

Asbestosis is the direct result of
asbestos exposure. This condition develops when
asbestos particles have been inhaled and become embedded in the lungs, leading
to irritation and the development of scar tissue. This, in turn, causes
the lungs to stiffen, which restricts air flow and ultimately inhibits
breathing and causes a dry, raspy cough.

Asbestosis Symptoms

It is not uncommon for asbestosis to be misdiagnosed in part because of
the rarity of this condition. Furthermore, asbestosis may not present
symptoms or fully develop until up to 10 years after asbestos exposure.
Common symptoms of asbestosis include:

Difficulty breathing

Shortness of breath

Persistent dry cough

Crackling sounds that accompany breathing

Fatigue

Chest pain or tightness

Loss of appetite

While there is no cure for asbestosis, the symptoms of the disease are
treatable through a number of therapies and medications. If you have been
exposed to asbestos at any time, make sure to notify your doctor of this
exposure, whether you are experiencing asbestosis symptoms or not.

Asbestosis Treatment

A mild case of asbestosis may not affect the patient’s life at all,
but more severe asbestosis can be fatal. Cardiac failure and respiratory
failure may result from severe asbestosis. Patients who have asbestosis
also suffer a depleted immune system, and thus are more likely to contract
illnesses such as pneumonia or the flu.

As with other asbestos-related diseases such as mesothelioma, treatment
of asbestosis is most successful when started at an early stage of the
disease. If a patient has been diagnosed with asbestosis, he or she should
immediately stop asbestos exposure and quit smoking. Since asbestosis
progresses slowly and there is currently no cure for this condition, treatments
are designed to ease the symptoms of asbestos and may include supplemental
oxygen or breathing therapy.

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